Antonio Enrique Lussón Batlle
Encyclopedia
Antonio Enrique Lussón Batlle (1930-), Cuban, born in Santiago de Cuba.
His family was financially stable and he obtained a good education, but he was not able to finish high school due to economic problems. He then worked as a farmer, a "pequeño colono," a truck driver, and a peddler. He was a member of the Partido Ortodoxo and after Batista's military coup, he engaged in underground activities in the Organización Auténtica (OA). He left the organization later and joined the MR-26th of July. He joined the guerrillas, as a sergeant, under the command of Raúl Castro
. Considered an excellent tactician with exceptional personal courage, in less than six months he became a comandante and was entrusted with one independent guerrilla column that had one of the best fighting records until December of 1958. He was second-in-command to Juan Almeida in 1959 at Managua Garrison and for several months was the Chief of Logistics. He also distinguished himself at Bay of Pigs Invasion
.
For most of the 1960s, he was chief of the Western Independent Army Corps.
His military education consists of two courses: Officers Basic Training and a Higher Course at El Morro Academy (predecessor to the current "Máximo Gómez" Academy).
He was Minister of Transportation, Merchant Marine, and Ports from 1970 to 1980. The first five years of his administration were considered successful, with major projects and investments, but by the late 1970s public transportation was in the same condition as in the late 1960s. Fidel Castro
, frustrated with his performance, ousted him and sent him to the EJT to command Camaguey's army corps. Two years later, he was sent to Angola for the first time. He spent seven years in Angola. From 1982 to 1985 as top commander of LCB forces against UNITA and from 1986 to 1989 as military commander of Luena Province.
He was Vice President of INRE from 1990 to 1996. He is the Division General and Chief of the Special Forces Directorate since 1998. He was appointed as supervisor of the directorate because this is a way that Raúl Castro rewards some of the very old veterans; similar to the cases of Sixto Batista, Rigoberto Fernández, Sergio del Valle Jiménez
, and Efigenio Ameijeiras.
Extensively decorated, he is considered a Hero of the Republic of Cuba.
His family was financially stable and he obtained a good education, but he was not able to finish high school due to economic problems. He then worked as a farmer, a "pequeño colono," a truck driver, and a peddler. He was a member of the Partido Ortodoxo and after Batista's military coup, he engaged in underground activities in the Organización Auténtica (OA). He left the organization later and joined the MR-26th of July. He joined the guerrillas, as a sergeant, under the command of Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
. Considered an excellent tactician with exceptional personal courage, in less than six months he became a comandante and was entrusted with one independent guerrilla column that had one of the best fighting records until December of 1958. He was second-in-command to Juan Almeida in 1959 at Managua Garrison and for several months was the Chief of Logistics. He also distinguished himself at Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
.
For most of the 1960s, he was chief of the Western Independent Army Corps.
His military education consists of two courses: Officers Basic Training and a Higher Course at El Morro Academy (predecessor to the current "Máximo Gómez" Academy).
He was Minister of Transportation, Merchant Marine, and Ports from 1970 to 1980. The first five years of his administration were considered successful, with major projects and investments, but by the late 1970s public transportation was in the same condition as in the late 1960s. Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, frustrated with his performance, ousted him and sent him to the EJT to command Camaguey's army corps. Two years later, he was sent to Angola for the first time. He spent seven years in Angola. From 1982 to 1985 as top commander of LCB forces against UNITA and from 1986 to 1989 as military commander of Luena Province.
He was Vice President of INRE from 1990 to 1996. He is the Division General and Chief of the Special Forces Directorate since 1998. He was appointed as supervisor of the directorate because this is a way that Raúl Castro rewards some of the very old veterans; similar to the cases of Sixto Batista, Rigoberto Fernández, Sergio del Valle Jiménez
Sergio del Valle Jiménez
Sergio del Valle Jiménez was a high-ranking Cuban military and government official who served as army chief of staff during the 1962 Missile Crisis and headed various cabinet ministries during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s....
, and Efigenio Ameijeiras.
Extensively decorated, he is considered a Hero of the Republic of Cuba.